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Central Okanagan

Stormy weather

by Jennifer Zielinski - Story: 78288
Jul 23, 2012 / 1:08 pm

July 20 Storm across the BC interior

Photo: Contributed - Larry B

Cranbrook BC Storm

Photo: Contributed - Larry B

Cranbrook BC Storm

Photo: Contributed - Larry B

Cranbrook BC Storm

Photo: Contributed - Larry B

Cranbrook BC Storm

Photo: Contributed - Larry B

Cranbrook BC Storm

Photo: Contributed - Larry B

Cranbrook BC Storm

Photo: Contributed - Chelsey B

Lumby Storm

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Environment Canada had been expecting Friday's summer storm for a long time.

Hot weather combined with an upper low brought moisture and instability from the south into the Central Okanagan, providing the makings for a well organized storm according to Doug Lundquist of Environment Canada.

"There was a system that affected us the weekend prior (July 14,15) that got kicked out and moved over us. So there was a couple of weather systems that triggered the severe weather on Friday. It was the heat, some moisture, tropical moisture from southern US combined, which produced several storms all over souther BC," says Lundquist.

Castanet received multiple photos from viewers all over the province of the storm's aftermath, from trees down on houses in Cranbrook, Oliver and Grand Forks to trees across roads in Lumby, to debris blown over a campsite in Oliver.

The storm is also blamed for the death of a 12-year-old who was in a cabin in Grand Forks when it was hit by a tree.

The worst of the storm systems hit the interior of the province on Friday, but Lundquist says a system did move through off the Pacific and into the Okanagan late Sunday night and early Monday morning.

"That is all going to move out today (Monday) after a little bit of showers. We are gradually building a ridge of high pressure, although it's not a strong enough ridge to prevent the chance of thunderstorms."

A ridge of high pressure, means the Central Okanagan will stay warm, however Lundquist says, there is still a risk for thundershowers.

"It doesn't take much to set off an organized storm in the middle of summer. There isn't anymore major organized systems (in the forecast), but it doesn't take much to set it off."

Looking ahead, Lundquist says there is a risk of thundershowers on Wednesday and Thursday in the afternoons and early evenings.

Although it may seem like the Okanagan has been battling the rain for sometime, according to Environment Canada, the temperatures in the Okanagan have been above normal temperature for this time of year. Lundquist also stresses that severe weather in July is not that unusual.

The good news is Environment Canada is forecasting highs in the low 30s for the weekend.